I first checked the cap before bringing it to BMW. They never once mentioned that the "tank vent valve" might actually/mechanically be in need of replacement. Rather, they led me to believe it was a software issue.

Second time this month mine has done it. First time, they had it 2 hours and said it was "loose gas cap".--- riiight, it's idiot proof and I'm sure it was on right. It came on a week later and I know damn well it isnt a loose cap. We'll see in the morning when I drop it off again. Had to wait a week for an apt with a loaner available.

I was driving my 335i hard in morning, "engine malfunction" came up. I stopped the car, turned engine off, restarted (its what i usualy do to bypass limp mode)...after restart all was fine, so I drove car hard again to see if error comes back...and it did,- "engine malfunction" came back. Again, stop, restart, drives fine, no "engine malfunction" but "sevice engine soon" came on... drove around little bit, had "start" "stop" several times since i needed to get out of car to do stuff...and was surprized "service engine soon" was gone. I have been driving this car like this for 3 years, since the day I got it, when car was new it bothered me at first.... "engine malfunction" was driving me crazy...took car to dealer back then...they couldnt fix it... so I took this 335i to another dealer and they replaced bad "solenoid", drove fine after that. But later on "engine malfunction" came back on...and has been coming back on....and keeps coming back on.... You just never know with this car, could drive it hard and all is fine, but other days you try to get away from some jerk on highway, smack it into 3rd gear, pulling out high rev...and BANG! car fails you with this wicked "engine malfunction",- have to pull over like an idiot to restart. I noticed,- "engine malfunction" is more likely to happen early morning (car is warmed up ofcourse)... This is lease, car is going back to BMWFS in 3 weeks... I am not going to get turbo egine again... M3V8 FTW!

2008 328i coupe. 10,400 miles. never a single problem until the check engine soon light came on yesterday morning. no other symptoms whatsoever. just the light.

has anyone ever heard of this or experienced the same thing?

they recommended that a "reprogramming" be done, but they could not do that today (something about the computer/software being updated on Sundays).

any further info will be greatly appreciated! thank you in advance.

-A

Hi,

I had perhaps the same problem. Apparently, there is a defective batch of filler hoses and vent valve assemblies on some cars. They replaced the hose neck, gas cap and filler tube assembly and maybe even the line to the charcoal canister.

Like you, the check engine light suddenly popped up for no reason, with no other symptoms. My car is also a 2008 but an E90. My dealer made no mention about reprogramming.

My '07 328xi had the same thing at 12,ooo miles. They cleared the fault, "fixed" something, sent me on my way. 31 miles later I got the check engine light again. The next day they replaced some part and the tank vent valve fault has stayed away so far.

They didn't reprogram anything on my car other than to reset the fault so the CE light was not on anymore.

2008 328i coupe. 10,400 miles. never a single problem until the check engine soon light came on yesterday morning. no other symptoms whatsoever. just the light.

has anyone ever heard of this or experienced the same thing?

they recommended that a "reprogramming" be done, but they could not do that today (something about the computer/software being updated on Sundays).

any further info will be greatly appreciated! thank you in advance.

-A

Hi,

I'm back with a second response to your original query. Talk about coincidences but just yesterday my car popped an SES light for no reason whatsoever.

I have the car back now from the dealer and guess what - the same exact vent valve failure, for the second time. Part number 13-90-7-572-234, the same as has been reported by others.

I find it hard to believe that a simple solenoid valve can fail like this. The first one went at 9,500 miles and now the second at 18,400 miles. Almost exactly the same failure interval.

Either BMW has a bad batch of these (like the HPFP on 335's) or something else is going on and this is just the symptom. I asked whether they tested the valve to confirm that it's defective and they said no. I suspect that the valves are fine but since that's what the code says, they blindly replace it.